Task 6C: Award Specialism Title

Award Specialism Title Proposal: BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Arts (Acting)

I have decided to conduct my research on the above title as I have a great desire to succeed now as an actress. My ultimate goal would be to perform in straight plays, especially Shakespearean dramas. My main passion has always been for acting and throughout my studies on the 3 Year Professional Diploma in Performing Arts at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, the straight acting classes and Acting Masterclass, which I was chosen to be part of, fuelled my love for straight theatre. In the final year of my studies at Italia Conti, I chose to study the acting option in the first term and this resulted in touring with a TIE production of Macbeth. Following this experience I knew that I wanted to pursue straight acting for stage and also film and television.

In my inquiry, I would like to focus on the positioning of the performer between musical theatre and straight theatre/acting. I want to find out how performers who have been trained in musical theatre are perceived in the world of straight acting and if there is room for performers to work in both acting and musical theatre. I would also like to investigate different forms of theatre including pantomime and Fringe work, and how actors can keep themselves afloat in resting periods between acting work. I want to find out what kind of effect the industry has on an actors self esteem and confidence and also the importance of actors in our society today and how they would be affected if funding for the arts was completely cut.